For details of the calculation method see below.
The basis for the UEFA coefficients is the performance of teams in the European Cups during a five year period. During that period each team gets two points for a win and one point for a draw (see below for matches in qualifying rounds).
In addition one bonus point is allocated for reaching the quarter final, the semi final and the final. Qualification for the group-stage of the Champions League is awarded with 4 bonus points (from 2004-2009: 3 bonus points, from 1995-2004: 1 point, before 1995: 2 points). Qualification for the first knock-out round of the Champions League yields 5 bonus points (from 2004-2009: 1 bonus point, before 2004: no bonus).
The so-called UEFA coefficients are calculated by taking an average, based on the total number of points divided by the total number of teams of each country. See the country coefficients of 2012 for an example of such a calculation.
The UEFA country ranking is computed by the sum of 5 coefficients in the last 5 years. See the country ranking of 2012 for an example of such a ranking list. To determine the participants in the Champions League and the Europa League the last year ranking is used, because each country should know at the start of the season how many places it disposes.
Since 2018 qualifying rounds and play-offs of the Champions League are no longer rewarded with points because all eliminated clubs get a second chance in the Europa League. Clubs who are eliminated in the first rounds of the Europa League are rewarded with a number of points based on the reached (qualifying) round:
| Europa League | |
| P | 0.50 |
| Q1 | 1.00 |
| Q2 | 1.50 |
| Q3 | 2.00 |
| Q4 | 2.50 |
| group stage | 3.00 (minimum) |
From 2009 till 2018 the qualification for the Champions League and the Europa League was rewarded with a number of points based on the reached qualifying round. The 3rd and 4th qualifying round of the Champions League were not rewarded with points because losing teams qualifed for the next stage in the Europa League.
| Champions League | Europa League | |
| Q1 | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Q2 | 1.00 | 0.50 |
| Q3 | - | 1.00 |
| Q4 | - | 1.50 |
| group stage | - | 2.00 (minimum) |
These qualification points are not cumulative. The group stage of the Champions League is already rewarded with bonus points (see above). The points for the group stage of the Europa League are a minimum and will not be added to the points obtained during the group stage. So, all participating teams get at least some qualification or bonus points.
Since 2018 the UEFA club ranking is computed by the sum of club points in the last 5 years, with a minimum of 20% of the country ranking. For the distribution of revenue there is also a 10-year ranking that includes historic title points:
| CL/CC | EL/UC/CWC | |
| Last 5 years | 12 | 3 |
| From 1992/93 | 8 | 2 |
| Before 1992/93 | 4 | 1 |
Before 2018 the UEFA team coefficients were calculated as the sum of the number of points of each individual team, and 20% of the country coefficient. From 2004-2008 the contribution of the country coefficient was 33%, and before 2004 the contribution of the country coefficient was 50%. The UEFA team ranking was then computed by the sum of 5 coefficients in the last 5 years.
Before 1999 a number of strong teams in the UEFA Cup were seeded
such that those teams do not meet in the first two rounds.
To determine these teams,
the sum of the ratio of the number of points achieved, divided by
the number of games played by each team, was calculated for the past
five years.
Details of the calculation of the UEFA Coeffcients
Definition of terms.
cteams = number of teams per country, tpoints = number of points per team (team coefficient method), tmatches = number of matches per team, and cpoints = number of points per country (country coefficient method). ccoef = country coefficient per year, crank = country ranking over 5 years, tcoef = team coefficient per year, and trank = team ranking over 5 years.
ccoef = rounddown(cpoints/cteams, 3) crank = sum(ccoef);
trank = max ( tpoints, rounddown( crank / 5 , 3) ) 10-year trank = max ( tpoints + title points, rounddown( 10year-crank / 5 , 3) )
tcoef = 0.20 * rounddown(cpoints/cteams, 3) + tpoints = ccoef / 5 + tpoints trank = rounddown(sum(tcoef) , 3)
tcoef = 0.5 * rounddown( 0.33 * (2*cpoints/cteams), 3) + tpoints trank = rounddown(sum(tcoef) , 3)
tcoef = 0.5 * rounddown( 0.50 * (2*cpoints/cteams), 3) + tpoints trank = rounddown(sum(tcoef) , 3)
tcoef = rounddown(tpoints/tmatches, 3) trank = sum(tcoef)
where
sum = sum over 5 years, and
rounddown(..., 3) = truncation to 3 significant digits after the decimal point.